Gbenro Adesina
The Nigeria Police Force and the Coalition of Northern Groups, (CNG), have debunked that the indigenes of Ebonyi State have forcefully evicted Fulani herdsmen living in the state.
It will be recalled that recently a video clip surfaced on the social media claiming that some indigenes of Ebonyi State stormed the settlement of Fulani herdsmen and destroyed their houses as well as asking them to park out of the state.
In the video, a man running a commentary stated, “This is Fulanis in Ebonyi State. So, we have destroyed their property telling them to start parking their property. We don’t need the Fulanis in Ebonyi. We don’t need Miyetti Allah in Ebonyi State. They should park out. We are doing everything humanly possible to make sure that all Fulanis park out here and we will follow them to their destination”.
“We are sending them out of Ebonyi so that our fathers and mothers can be able to go to the farm. We don’t need them anymore. We the indigenous are here to do the needful. As you can see them, they are parking their property. We destroy all the destroyable to make sure they park out from Ebonyi State. We are not joking. We are determined to park them out in Ebonyi State. We cannot tolerate the Fulanis threatening our fathers and mothers in the farm”, the man added.
Based on this development, some Nigerians condemned the eviction, saying that it is the constitutional right of Nigerians to live in any part of the country so desired.
Engr. Yasir Arafat Jubril said, “The forceful eviction of Fulanis from their settlements in Ebonyi state is an atrocity that stands condemned as their right to live in any part of Nigeria as enshrined in the constitution has been subjugated”.
Also, Gimba Kakanda stated, “No group has been misrepresented and demonized in our media as much as the Fulani. We don’t hold any group responsible for what a few of their members do this much, and this injustice speaks volume. The government only wakes up when the Fulani strike back”.
However in swift reactions, the Nigeria Police said that such incident did not happen in Ebonyi State.
A statement issued by the state Commissioner of Police, Philip Maku, described as fake, faceless and mischievous, the online video alleging that Fulani herdsmen in the state were being attacked and forced to leave the state.
He maintained that Fulani herdsmen are not under attack or being chased out of Ebonyi State.
The statement reads in parts:
“The attention of the Ebonyi Police Command has been drawn to a distorted and misleading video in circulation on social media platform by faceless group that Fulani herdsmen were being attacked and chased out of Ebonyi.
“To set the record straight, the Command wishes to state that on January 2, one Fulani herdsman, Alhaji Adamu, residing at Ozibo Village in Nkaleke Ichaba/Enyibishiri Community decided to relocate.
“Adamu relocated with some members of his family to Taraba in search for greener pastures for his cows at the dry season is setting in.
“He also informed the village chairman and Ichaba Development Centre Coordinator before his peaceful and voluntary relocation”.
Also, in a statement by Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, the spokesman for CNG, the video is a fake.
The statement reads in parts:
“The Coalition of Northern Groups like all concerned northerners was alarmed by a video clip being circulated on the social media of a purported expulsion of a Fulani pastoral community from an area in Ebonyi state.
“The video was introduced by a faceless commentator that claimed they have destroyed the said Fulani settlement and would ensure no Fulani is seen anywhere in Ebonyi.
“Worried by the tension being drawn by the viral video, the CNG, cautious as always, launched an investigation through all available contacts aimed at confirming the authenticity of its contents.
“The CNG is pleased to report that results of the investigation had proved that the clip was fabricated by some mischief makers that aimed to cause interregional conflicts.
“CNG reliably gathered from the Hausa community leader of Ebonyi, Alhaji Danjuma Mahmudu Gambo that the Fulani were evacuating the area voluntarily and peacefully but mischief makers recorded and spread the video to cause disaffection.
“Confirming this the Chief Imam of Ebonyi, Alhaji Ishaq also said the video was mischievous and that the Governor of Ebonyi state, David Umahi had even ordered investigation and arrest of the maker of the clip.
“However, reliable sources have confirmed to us that Northerners have been intermittently targeted since February last year in some parts of the state resulting in the killing of about 20 herders while the Governor only urges patience and promises to take action.
“The CNG wishes in the meantime, to urge all northerners to discountenance this particular video clip as it has been confirmed to be unauthentic by reliable northern community leaders in the state.
“We also appreciate the prompt response by Governor Umahi and call for thorough investigation and appropriate prosecution of the culprits to serve as deterrent and to take steps to ensure the safety of Northerners living in the state as minorities.
“Meanwhile, we restate our repudiation of the vilification, stereotyping and stigmatizing of one ethnic group or another anywhere in Nigeria”.
